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Blessed with a plethora of picturesque natural landscapes in every direction of this little town of Vang Vieng, it is not surprising that numerous vantage points have sprouted along the unpaved paths of the other riverbank, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Pha Ngeun Viewpoint. However, it was not the views captured from that viewpoint that caught my eye but rather a more obscure one further out in the wilderness which truly amazed me – the Namxay Viewpoint.

Oftentimes dubbed as the epitome of picturesque natural landscapes in the Laotian countryside, Vang Vieng is home to numerous natural attractions and phenomena that offer a stark contrast against the party atmosphere in the town centre.

Blessed with spectacular natural landscapes adorning the entire region with limestone karsts erected just on the opposite bank of the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng is certainly a nature lover’s paradise to just relax, unwind and throw himself into the embrace of Mother Nature.

Situated halfway along the route between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng prides itself as a backpacker haven which offers visitors a spectacular view of its picturesque natural landscapes with rice paddy fields and limestone karsts dotting the lands.

Upon arriving in Vientiane, travellers can already sense the relaxed pace of life permeating throughout the entire country of Laos. As such, this itinerary will have a balance between some of the most intriguing, exciting spots that this capital city has to offer and some of the less visited hideaways to just unwind and get rejuvenated before possibly heading to other regions of the country.

As Buddhism plays a pivotal role in the society of Laos, it is not surprising to be able to spot numerous temples scattered all over the heart of Vientiane’s city centre. Commonly known as ‘wats’, these temples offer spectacular architecture for visitors to admire and also an opportunity to better comprehend the culture and traditions endeared by the local populace.

This adventure brings us further downstream of the Mekong River to a park approximately 25 kilometres away from the city centre of Vientiane. It almost feels as though we had just embarked on a pilgrimage to the famous Buddha Park, which is a must-visit when in the area. Known to the locals affectionately as Xieng Khuan (literally meaning Spirit City), the park is visited by large numbers of local devotees who have come to offer their prayers to the deities as well as tourists who would love to dwell in the tranquillity of the countryside and admire these mysterious, peculiar stone sculptures.